Michael Green, Climate Action Liaison Coalition
Attempts to address climate change thus far have not been effective; we need to evolve our thinking and our approach to action. One potential source of inspiration for new approaches are small business leaders in our communities who have begun to take bold action to protect their business and community from the dangers of climate change.Last year at COP 18, a representative from the United States delegation told a group of American students that we should go home and help foster the political support for a bold climate treaty within the private sector. When I returned home to my community, I found that the political support is already there among local small business leaders! What is needed now is to give voice to this support so that politicians and the general public can become more aware of it.
For example, Laury Hammel, the owner of Long Fellow Club, a health and fitness club with several locations across the United States, has begun to take bold action. As the Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, Laury is dedicated to fostering a new economy that focuses on reducing his business’ carbon footprint while leading other businesses to do the same. Over the past two years alone, Long Fellow Sports Club has made massive reductions in their energy usage – almost 40 per cent – through their Thinklite HammelLite system. This custom designed lighting system uses a magnetic induction lighting process with a 30-year lifespan.
In addition, by joining the Climate Action Liaison Coalition (CALC), Laury’s business is now plugged into local and state policy efforts, enabling him to very efficiently and effectively lend his voice to specific policy initiatives. Through its partnerships with other policy organisations, CALC provides a direct connection from Laury to local and state policy makers so that he can present the business case for bold climate action.
Business leaders recognise the need to limit our carbon emissions and tackle climate change. They understand the threat posed by climate change and the lack of leadership coming from the federal government. The devastation from Hurricane Sandy made this very clear, with 30 per cent of the businesses affected by the disaster never reopening! Businesses that do survive an extreme weather event lose thousands of dollars each day they remain closed.
Small enterprises get a majority of their business from within 3 km of their front doors. This makes small businesses more vulnerable to loss compared to larger multinational corporations that have the ability to backup resources at alternate facilities or multiple locations. Direct damage from extreme weather events such as flooding, sea level rise, storm surge, and drought will impact small businesses more severely than a larger business with more financial and human capital.
In response to these threats, there has been a rebirth of local economy and community resiliency models, with small business leaders at the helm. Internal sustainability has been championed due to its ability to not only reduce bottom line costs but also fulfill commitments to the community and world around them.
While internal sustainability is an important step in the right direction, it is not enough. Small businesses need to use their voice as community leaders to push policy makers to match their bold actions. Business leaders have the potential to not just act locally, but also to influence policy and action at all levels of government. One way to do this is by sharing their stories that redefine the false dichotomy which pits short term economic profit against our future.
At COP 19 CALC will be working to stand up for small businesses like Laury’s and challenge the status quo. This is because for these community leaders, pushing for a binding treaty that closes the emissions gap, promotes technology transfer to developing countries, and supports those who are affected the most by climate change makes business sense. – Outreach magazine
